Kristen Houghton is an award-winning, best-selling author of seven fiction and two non-fiction books as well as a frequent contributor of short stories to fiction anthologies. Her series A Cate Harlow Private Investigation has garnered praise from renowned book critics nationwide and her books are on the top-selling book lists in the USA, the U.K., and France.

Her vast portfolio includes writing for The Huffington Post, More Magazine, the San Francisco Examiner, and Women Magazine as well as celebrity interviews and reviews for HBO documentaries, OWN-The Oprah Winfrey Network, and The Style Channel. She appears as a guest author and book commentator regularly on TV, radio, and internet shows.

"I was always a story-teller and that’s what writers do; we tell stories. I was the little girl who could keep her friends interested for a couple of hours by telling all different types of stories. I wrote my first story, "Bobby Jones and the Little Boat" when I was nine. My imagination was, and is, very fertile and active. In high school I created a sort of soap opera and, each day during study hall, I would hand out the next part of the story. I made sure to always leave a cliffhanger of sorts with each new part to stir up anticipation. I love the magic in writing and reading a good story.

My book shelf is eclectic: everything is there from the classics by Shakespeare, Austin and Dickens, to Victorian English dramas such as John Galsworthy’s The Forsyte Saga, up to the classic horror of Stephen King and Anne Rice. I also love The Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency series and anything written by Amy Tan especially The Bonesetter’s Daughter. Reading, and writing, is my escape and my pleasure."

Kristen began her dream of writing while still actively teaching Linguistics on the secondary level.

Her first book, And Then I'll Be Happy! was published in 2009. No Woman Diets Alone-There's Always a Man Behind Her Eating a Doughnut followed in 2011, and Welcome to Hell was released in 2012. She hopes her novels will touch readers with humor and poignancy, suspense and delight.

When not spending time with the made up characters in her head, Kristen enjoys ballet and jazz, spending time with her patient and terrific husband, Alan, swimming, scuba-diving and trying to live an endless summer.

Kristen is a philanthropist and tireless advocate for BroadwayBarks, North Shore Animal League,a no kill shelter, Shelters With Heart, a safe haven for victims of domestic violence and their pets, BroadwayCares Equity Fights Aids, and St. Jude Thanks and Giving. She is also involved as an empowerment mentor for the International Women's Health Coalition.

A California girl at heart, she and her husband, Alan reside in the New York City area which is "magical".

Exciting new thriller

"Kristen Houghton knows exactly how to draw her readers into the story. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book and can't wait for the next in the series. Brava Kristen! Well-done!"

"The impact of this little novel stays with you long after you turn the last page. You can enjoy the dark humor and cleverness of the storyline and leave it at that, or you can allow the deeper philosophy to simmer around in your head long afterward, as it did with me. It wouldn't be nice to reveal more, but at the very least, Welcome to Hell is an entertaining read and a lively conversation starter."

"A funny, irreverent romp through marital misadventures told completely tongue-in-cheek by Kristen Houghton, the best new humor writer we've read in a long time! Fresh and charmingly funny! Houghton takes relationships to a new level of hilarity." Since being launched on December 1, 2011, it has stayed in the top 50 books of the new year.

Praised by reviewers as a "must-read," her book, ranked among the 100 top-sellers by Tower Books, offers realistic, solid solutions for creating a happy, healthy, personally successful life that you can live on your own terms. Critics hail her work as "fresh, insightful, sharp, sexy-funny, and sophisticated...... Savvy, sane advice for all!"

And Then I'll Be Happy! has been consistently ranked in the top-selling 100 books by Tower Books for 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

A small book of thoughtful sayings, and short tales that will teach you how to nourish the “self within” and become whole. Each segment begins with a life statement and ends with a Nourishing Thought coming from an eclectic mix of writers, historical figures, actors, and ancient spiritual sages. From Mark Twain to Buddha to Katharine Hepburn to Julius Caesar, to a surprisingly, serious statement made by the Queen of Comedy, Lucille Ball, the sayings offer practical advice on living a nourishing, positive life. Each “nourishing thought” will help you towards having your own “great sense of self.”

This is a sweet, poignant story of two sisters, their interwoven lives, their longings and regrets, but most of all, a story of remembering. The desire to have someone share memories and past moments of our lives with us is a powerful need. Life is made up of remembrances both mundane and life-changing.Kirkus Review says:"Hetty and Deidre will win your hearts in this short story by phenomenal new writer of the supernatural, Kristen Houghton.

Winner of the Writers Guild Review Best New Young Adult Fiction award.

About This SiteThank you for visiting the official professional site of Kristen Houghton — author and journalist. Kristen loves to speak to book clubs, organizations, businesses, and all groups! All you need to do is ask!